Topping-machine.



V.. 0. DEYL.

TOPPING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED NOV. 14, 1913.

FIG. 1.

COLUMBIA PLANDODAPH c0., WAiHINflTUN, D. c

Patented May 12, 1914..

2 SHEETS-SHEET l.

V. 0. DEYL.

TOPPING MACHINE.

APPLIOATION IILBD NOV. 14, 1913.

1,096,695. Patented May12,191L

2 SHEETS-SHEET 2.

COLUMBIA PLANGGRAPH C0 WASHINGTDN. D. c.

UNITED l STATES PATENT OFFICE.

VAOLAV OTAKAR DEYL, OF VINOIR, NEAR PRAGUE, AUSTRIA-HUNGARY.

TOPPING-MACHINE.

I '0 all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, VAcLAv OTAKAR DEYL, a subject of the Emperor ofAustria-Hungary, residing at Vinoi', near Prague, Bohemia,Austria-Hungary, have invented certain. new and useful Improvements inTop ping-Machines, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to an improvement in topping machines forturnips, beet roots and the like having a topping knife which isvertically adjustable in its longitudinal direction to suit thedifferent heights of the roots, the movement of the knife being produced by means of a wheel. In machines of this kind the wheels areadjustable only in the vertical direction for determining the verticalposition of the knives. I In rows of roots, however, all the roots arenot in a straight line, but a little way away from the center line,frequently to such an extent that the wheel determining the verticalposition of the knives, passes the root, and in that way an excessivesection of the root is out. As the whole machine cannot be guided by thefront steering device sufficiently quickly to enable the wheel, which issituated in the center of the machine, to strike each root, it has beenfound essential to arrange the wheel inside the machine so that it canbe moved to the side instantaneously. According to this invention thisis done by the wheel spindle with its roller guides being adjustablymounted by means of a carriage on a cross-bar of the machine frame sothat it can be pulled by means of a connecting rod and hand leverinstantaneously to the side, to the right or to the left from thecentral line and exactly above the root. This hand lever can then becoupled by means of a connecting rod to the steering lever for the frontwheels, so that the person guiding the wheel, simultaneously effects thesteering of the front wheels.

A construction according to this invention is illustrated by way ofexample in the accompanying drawing, in Figure 1 in back view and inFig. 2 in plan.

On the machine frame or on its cross bar 1 is mounted in roller guides52 and so as to be vertically adjustable a spindle 3 the lower end ofwhich forms a bearing 1 for the topping knife 5. The knife isreeiprocated in its longitudinal direction by the driving wheel 10 bymeans of a series of pivoted rods 6, 7, 8, 9. On the cross-bar 1 is alsoloosely Specification of Letters Patent.

Application filed November 14, 1913.

Patented May 12, 1914.

Serial No. 801.046.

mounted a carriage 11 connected by means of a rod 12 to a double armedhand lever 13 which can be moved by the driver when he is sitting on themachine, from where he can see the turnips. To the carriage 11 aresecured roller guides 1 1 in which the spindle 15 with the wheel 16determining the vertical position of the knives, is vertically adustablymounted. This wheel spindle 15 is connected by means of bolts 16 and 17to the spindle 3, not rigidly, however, the wheel spindle 15 beingprovided with two sleeves l8 and 19 loosely mounted on the bolts 16 and17. These bolts are adjustably mounted in the slots 20 and 21 of theknife spindle whereby the thickness of out can be regulated. The bottombolt 17 is controlled by a double-armed lever 22, on one or the otherarm of which can be mounted a weight 23 for loading or relieving thewheel.

It will be seen that when a root stands too far away from the centralline of the row (Fig. 1) so that it would not be touched by the wheel,the carriage 11 and the wheel spindle 15 can be adjusted so that thewheel 16 would be exactly above the root, by suitably adjusting'z; thehand lever 13 in the direction of the arrow I, so that the wheel strikescorrectly the head of the root, and the topping knife correctly cuts it.

Asthe driver of the wheel 16 and the driver of the front wheels 24 wouldusually not agree, and in order further to economize one attendant, thesteering lever 25 of the front wheels is connected by a rod 26 to thehand lever 13, so that the driver of the wheel 16 can simultaneouslysteer it and the front wheels, which is of considerable importance whenthe rows of roots are not straight. The amount of steering of the frontwheels is regulated by means of holes 27 provided in the lateralsteering lever 25. When the connecting rod 26 not in use, the front endof the same is placed into a fork 28.

The topping knife 5 must cut the root at the moment that the wheel isstill on it. As the topping knife is in oblique position, it wouldhappen in the event of a root being at the side, that the wheel wouldroll off the root before the topping knife becomes operative, and theroot would be cut too deep. This disadvantage is remedied by staggeringthe single disks of the wheel 16, in accordance with the obliqueposition of the edge of the knife 5 and in the longitudinal direction ofthe machine. Fig. 2 shows the arrangement of the said disks. Owing tothis arrangement, the single disks pass the root consecutively, and keepthe topping knife raised so long as a disk rolls over the root. Theconsequence is that all the roots are cut to the same thickness that is,even roots which are planted far away at the side of the row.

Vhat I claim as my invention and desire to secure by Letters Patentis 1. In a topping machine comprising a frame, a wheel, and. a toppingknife which is vertically adjustable to the height of the wheel, thecombination of a carriage and a hand lever moving the same, said wheelbeing connected to the carriage so that it can be moved. to the side.

2. In a topping machine comprising a frame, a wheel, and a topping knifewhich is vertically adjustable to the height of the wheel, thecombination of a carriage, a spindle to which said wheel is attached,and a hand lever adapted to move the wheel to one side.

3. In a topping machine comprising a frame, a wheel, and a topping knifewhich is vertically adjustable to the height of-the wheel, thecombination of a hand lever, a connecting rod therefor, a carriageattached to one end of the connecting rod, a wheel spindle, rollerguides therefor, sleeves on.

Copies of this patent may be obtained for the wheel spindle, boltspassing therethrongh and a spindle for the knife to which said bolts areconnected.

4. In a topping machine comprising a frame, a topping knife, frontwheels, steering gear for said front wheels and a Wheel for adjustingthe heightof the topping knife, the combination of a hand lever, aconnecting rod therefor, a carriage attached to one end of theconnecting rod, a Wheel spindle, roller guides therefor, sleeves on thewheel spindle, bolts passing therethrough, a spindle for the knife towhich said bolts are connected, and an adjustable rod connecting thesteering gear to the hand lever, for the purpose set forth.

In a topping machine comprising a frame, a wheel and anobliquetopping'knife which is vertically adjustable to the height of the wheel,the combination of single disks making up the Wheel and staggered tosuit the oblique knife, a carriage and a hand lever moving the same,said wheel being connected to the carriage so that it can be. moved tothe side.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence of two subscribing witnesses.

VACLAV OTAKAR DEYL.

WVitnesses I MILOSLAV HRUBi, ADoLrH FIscHER.

five cents each, by addressing the Gonimissionerof Eatents, Washington,D. C.

